Mascot Serial #0: The Silent Flyer (1926)(silent)
(10 chapter) William James Craft
Led to the founding of Mascot Pictures and often listed as Mascot's first
serial.
Produced by Nat Levine and released by Universal.

Republic was one of the first Hollywood studios to offer its film library to
television. In 1951 Republic
established a subsidiary, Hollywood Television Service, to sell screening rights
in its vintage westerns
and action thrillers. Hollywood Television Service also produced television
shows filmed in the same style
as Republic's serials such as The Adventures of Fu Manchu (1956). Also, in 1952
the Republic studio lot
became the first home of MCA's series factory, Revue Productions. While it would
appear that Republic was
well suited for television-series production, it did not have the finances or
vision to do so. Yet by the
mid-fifties, thanks to its sale of old features and leasing of studio space to
MCA, television was the prop
holding up Republic Pictures. During this period, Republic produced Commando
Cody: Sky Marshal of the Universe;
unsuccessful as a theater release, the 12-part serial was later sold to NBC for
television distribution.
Talent-agent MCA exerted influence at the studio, bringing some high-paid
clients in for occasional features,
and it was rumored at various times that either MCA or deposed MGM head Louis B.
Mayer would buy the studio
outright. From 1954-1955, Republic produced Stories of the Century, starring and
narrated by Jim Davis.
The syndicated series was the first western to win an Emmy Award.

Sequel of sorts to The 1934 Mascot Pictures Corporation serial
The Lost Jungle. Mascot was a minor film company
that in 1935 was one the six Poverty Row studios that merged to form Republic
Pictures.
Darkest Africa was re-released in 1966 for television renamed as Batmen of
Africa, to capitalise on the Batman
craze of the time.

Republic Serial #2. Undersea Kingdom (1936)
(12 chapters) Genre: Science Fiction.
Directed by B. Reeves Eason and Joseph Kane
Starring Ray Corrigan
Undersea Kingdom was intended to rival Universal's Flash Gordon & the star of
the serial was named Crash Corrigan
because it sounded similar to Flash Gordon.
The serial is parodied in the Star Trek: Voyager episode; The Adventures of
Captain Proton.

Republic Serial #4. Robinson Crusoe of Clipper Island (1936)
(14 chapters) Genre: Maritime.
Directed by Ray Taylor and Mack V. Wright
Starring Ray Mala
This was the first Republic serial to feature a 'Re-cap Chapter' in which events
of the previous chapters are
repeated & possibly the first instance of this concept now prevalent in modern
TV shows such as '24'.

Republic Serial #5. Dick Tracy (1937)
(15 chapters) Genre: Crime.
Based on the comic strip 'Dick Tracy'.
Directed by Alan James
Starring Ralph Byrd
There were three sequels to this serial. They were all permitted by an
interpretation of the original contract,
which allowed for a "series or serial". That meant that Dick Tracy creator,
Chester Gould was only paid for the
rights to produce this serial but not for any of the sequels!

Republic Serial #9. The Lone Ranger (1938) (15 chapters) Genre: Western.
Based on the radio series 'The Lone Ranger'.
Directed by William Witney and John English
Starring Billy Bletcher (voice)

Republic Serial #10. The Fighting Devil Dogs (1938)
(12 chapters) Genre: Science Fiction.
William Witney and John English
Starring Lee Powell
The Fighting Devil Dogs features The Lightning, the very first costumed
supervillain.

Republic Serial #11. Dick Tracy Returns (1938)
(15 chapters) Genre: Crime.
Based on the comic strip 'Dick Tracy'.
Directed by William Witney and John English
Starring Ralph Byrd
As with the other three serials in the Republic series, Tracy is depicted as a
West Coast FBI agent rather
than the local police detective for a large Midwestern city he is in the
original comic strip.

Republic Serial #12. Hawk of the Wilderness (1938)
(12 chapters) Genre: Jungle.
Based on the novel by William L. Chester.
Directed by William Witney and John English
Starring Herman Brix, Ray Mala

Republic Serial #13. The Lone Ranger Rides Again (1939) (15 chapters) Genre: Western.
Based on the radio series 'The Lone Ranger'.
Directed by William Witney and John English
Starring Robert Livingston / Billy Bletcher(voice) & Chief
Thunder Cloud (as Tonto)

Diabolical mastermind Harry Crowel, a.k.a. Prisoner 39013, escapes and, with a
seemingly endless
supply of henchmen, sets out to destroy all holdings of industrialist Horace
Granville, who put him
in prison. One target is an amusement park, home of the three Daredevils of the
Red Circle, who perform
death-defying stunts. Aghast at innocent lives lost, our three heroes swear to
capture No. 39013. It'll
be harder than they suspect; the villain is holding the real Granville captive,
and with a near-perfect
disguise, has taken his place! [RC]

Republic Serial #15. Dick Tracy's G-Men (1939)
(15 chapters) Genre: Crime
Based on the comic strip 'Dick Tracy'.
Directed by William Witney and John English
Starring Ralph Byrd, Phylis Isley (Jennifer Jones)
'G-Man' is a contemporary slang term for an agent of the FBI. In the comic
strip, Dick Tracy is actually a
detective in the police force of an unnamed Midwestern city resembling Chicago.
This was changed for the serial.

Republic Serial #16. Zorro's Fighting Legion (1939)
(12 chapters) Genre: Western.
Based on 'Zorro' created by Johnston McCulley.
Directed by William Witney and John English
Starring Reed Hadley
This is the serial that featured an identical death each episode. Each
informant, trying to reveal the identity
of the main villain would utter the phrase "Don del Oro is..." and then be shot
by a golden arrow (wielded by
Don del Oro himself, hidden behind a curtain) and die with a grunt before being
able to name the villain's alter ego.

Republic Serial #17. Drums of Fu Manchu (1940)
(15 chapters) Genre: Yellow Peril.
Based on Fu Manchu created by Sax Rohmer.
Directed by William Witney and John English
Starring Henry Brandon

Republic Serial #18. Adventures of Red Ryder (1940)
(12 chapters) Genre: Western.
Based on the comic strip 'Red Ryder'.
Directed by William Witney and John English
Starring Don "Red" Barry

Republic Serial #19. King of the Royal Mounted (1940)
(12 chapters) Genre: Northern - Canadian Mounties
Directed by William Witney and John English
Starring Allan Lane
Based on the comic strip 'King of the Royal Mounted'.
Northern genre films are similar to Westerns but the action occurs in the
Canadian North and typically feature
Mounties instead of, for example, Cowboys or Sheriffs.
Opening caption, "Although the Royal Canadian Mounted Police are few in number,
they successfully guard a
vast dominion of the British Empire. From the United States border to the Arctic
ice pack and from the Atlantic
to the Pacific, the red coat of the Mountie is the symbol of law and order and a
promise that justice will prevail.
To these gallant men, "King of the Royal Mounted" is respectfully dedicated."

Republic Serial #20. Mysterious Doctor Satan (1940)
(15 chapters) Genre: Superhero.
Directed by William Witney and John English
Starring Eduardo Ciannell
Originally intended as a Superman serial but DC Comics withdrew permission
because of changes Republic
incorporated into their character's backstory. This was the first original
Superhero film.

Captain Marvel #1. Curse of the Scorpion (1941)
Captain Marvel #2. The Guillotine (1941)
Captain Marvel #3. Time Bomb (1941)
Captain Marvel #4. Death Takes the Wheel (1941)
Captain Marvel #5. The Scorpion Strikes (1941)
Captain Marvel #6. Lens of Death (1941)
Captain Marvel #7. Human Targets (1941)
Captain Marvel #8. Boomerang (1941)
Captain Marvel #9. Dead Man's Trap (1941)
Captain Marvel #10. Doom Ship (1941)
Captain Marvel #11. Valley of Death (1941)
Captain Marvel #12. Captain Marvel's Secret (1941)
Synopsis:
Based on the Fawcett Comics character 'Captain Marvel'. This serial was the
first film adaptation of a
comic book superhero.
On a scientific expedition to Siam young Billy Batson is given the ability to
change himself into the
super-powered Captain Marvel by the wizard Shazam, who tells him his powers will
last only as long as
the Golden Scorpion idol is threatened. Finding the idol, the scientists realize
it could be the most
powerful weapon in the world and remove the lenses that energize it,
distributing them among themselves
so that no one would be able to use the idol by himself. Back in the US, Billy
Batson, as Captain Marvel,
wages a battle against an evil, hooded figure, the Scorpion, who hopes to
accumulate all five lenses,
thereby gaining control of the super-powerful weapon. [DS]

Synopsis/ Background:
Based on Nyoka the Jungle Girl by Edgar Rice Burroughs but bears almost no
resemblance to the novel, which
was about an Asian princess, not a white woman living in Africa.
Jungle Girl was the first sound serial to have a female lead.
Dr. John Meredith has been driven from civilization by the criminal activities
of his twin brother Bradley Meredith.
With his infant daughter, he settles in the African jungle, where his ability to
cure the native ills has resulted
in his virtual control of the Masamba tribes, who possess vast diamond mines
coveted by a gang of crooks. They
use Shamba, a witch doctor jealous of Dr. Meredith's influence over the tribe,
to further their schemes. They
lure Dr. Meredith away from the jungle, and he is murdered by "Slick" Latimer.
The natives believe that a sacred
amulet is the secret of Dr. Meredith's power, and Shamba attempts to kill Nyoka,
Meredith's now-grown-up daughter,
to obtain the amulet (which actually contains the secret to the entrance of the
Caves of Nakros). Jack Stanton
rescues her and assists her in her efforts to recover the amulet. Latimer works
with Shamba, and with Bradley
Meredith, who poses as his murdered-brother so successfully that even Nyoka does
not realize the deception. [LA]

Republic Serial #23. King of the Texas Rangers (1941)
(12 chapters) Genre: Western.
Directed by William Witney and John English
Starring Slingin' Sammy Baugh
Although the serial's plot involves Nazi agents in Texas, this serial predates
America's entry into
World War II. The Nazis are never named as such but it is strongly implied
within the serial

Perils of Nyoka - Serial Trailer
The Perils of Nyoka #1. Desert Intrigue (1942)
The Perils of Nyoka #2. Death's Chariot (1942)
The Perils of Nyoka #3. Devil's Crucible (1942)
The Perils of Nyoka #4. Ascending Doom (1942)
The Perils of Nyoka #5. Fatal Second (1942)
The Perils of Nyoka #6. Human Sacrifice (1942)
The Perils of Nyoka #7. Monster's Clutch (1942)
The Perils of Nyoka #8. Tuareg Vengeance (1942)
The Perils of Nyoka #9. Burned Alive (1942)
The Perils of Nyoka #10. Treacherous Trail (1942)
The Perils of Nyoka #11. Unknown Peril (1942)
The Perils of Nyoka #12. Underground Tornado (1942)
The Perils of Nyoka #13. Thundering Death (1942)
The Perils of Nyoka #14. Blazing Barrier (1942)
The Perils of Nyoka #15. Satan's Fury (1942)
Synopsis / Background
Sequel to "Jungle Girl"(1941) & loosely based on the book of the same name by Edgar Rice
Burroughs. However
Republic did not want to pay licensing fees to Burroughs again so it avoided any
repetition of the
term 'Jungle Girl' to which he had the rights. Instead 'Nyoka' the name of the
main character in the
first film was placed in the title of the sequel, because that name was an
original creation of
Republic's writers, not of Burroughs.
Professor Campbell's expedition into the hills of Libya obtains a papyrus which
might reveal the
hiding place of the Golden Tablets of Hippocrates, containing lost medical
secrets. Also in
the region is intrepid Nyoka Gordon, still seeking her father, lost on a
previous expedition.
She alone can translate the papyrus, which directs our heroes through deadly
perils (including
the Tunnel of Bubbling Death) into the land of the Tuaregs. Opposing them are
Vultura, Queen of
the Desert, and her Arab ally Cassib, both greedy for the treasure... [RC]

Republic Serial #27. King of the Mounties (1942)
(12 chapters) Genre: Northern - Canadian Mounties
Directed by William Witney
Starring Allan Lane
Based on the comic strip 'King of the Royal Mounted'.

Republic Serial #28. G-men vs. the Black Dragon (1943)
(15 chapters) Genre: Spy & War.
Directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet
Starring Rod Cameron
G-Men vs. The Black Dragon was commissioned based on the success of the serial
Spy Smasher,
although the production team preferred to have a non-costumed character.

Republic Serial #31. The Masked Marvel (1943)
(12 chapters) Genre: Superhero.
Directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet
Starring Tom Steele, David Bacon
The Masked Marvel is a reverse of the 'old mystery villain theme.' The identity
of the Masked Marvel is
kept secret from the audience until the last chapter.

Republic Serial #34. Haunted Harbor (1944)
aka "Pirates' Harbor"
(15 chapters) Genre: Maritime.
Directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet
Starring Kane Richmond
Based on the novel by Ewart Adamson. This was the last adaptation by Republic &
also the last jungle serial for nine years.

Republic Serial #35. Zorro's Black Whip (1944) (12 chapters) Genre: Western.
Based on 'Zorro' created by Johnston McCulley.
Directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet
Starring Linda Stirling
Despite the title the name 'Zorro' does not appear in the film. The Zorro-like
character
is referred to throughout as The Black Whip and is actually female.

Republic Serial #48. Adventures of Frank and Jesse James (1948)
A 'Republic' Western Serial (2nd of 3 Jesse James serials)
Associate Producer Franklin Adreon
Screenplay by Franklin Adreon, Basil Dickey, Sol Shor
Directed by Fred Brannon, Yakima Canutt
13 Chapters x approx 14 min (Total Length 180 min)
Starring:Clayton Moore as Jesse James, aka John Howard Steve Darrell as Frank James, aka Bob Carroll
Adventures of Frank and Jesse James #1. Agent of Treachery (1948)
Adventures of Frank and Jesse James #2. The Hidden Witness (1948)
Adventures of Frank and Jesse James #3. The Lost Tunnel (1948)
Adventures of Frank and Jesse James #4. Blades of Death (1948)
Adventures of Frank and Jesse James #5. Roaring Wheels (1948)
Adventures of Frank and Jesse James #6. Passage to Danger (1948)
Adventures of Frank and Jesse James #7. The Secret Code (1948)
Adventures of Frank and Jesse James #8. Doomed Cargo (1948)
Adventures of Frank and Jesse James #9. The Eyes of the Law (1948)
Adventures of Frank and Jesse James #10. The Stolen Body (1948)
Adventures of Frank and Jesse James #11. The Death Trap (1948)
Adventures of Frank and Jesse James #12. Talk or Die! (1948)
Adventures of Frank and Jesse James #13. Unmasked. (1948)

Republic Serial #51. King of the Rocket Men (1949)[Rocket Man Serial #1]
(12 chapters) Genre: Science Fiction.
Directed by Fred C. Brannon
Starring Tristram Coffin, Mae Clarke
First of the 'Rocket Man' serials. The character reappeared with a variety of
names in
later serials such as Radar Men from the Moon & Zombies of the Stratosphere.

Republic Serial #57. Don Daredevil Rides Again (1951)
(12 chapters) Genre: Western.
Directed by Fred C. Brannon
Starring Ken Curtis
Includes footage from Zorro's Black Whip
Loosely based on 'Zorro' created by Johnston McCulley. The character of Don
Daredevil was
created for this serial as the rights to Zorro belonged to Disney by 1951..

Republic Series/Serial. Commando Cody: Sky Marshal of the Universe (1953)[Rocket Man Serial #5]
(12 episodes) Genre: Science fiction
Directed by Franklin Adreon and Fred C. Brannon
Starring Judd Holdren and Richard Crane
There is some controversy among scholars of movie serials
whether this is a serial or a television series.
It was originally intended as a TV series, but contractual obligations forced
Republic Pictures to give
it a theatrical release before allowing it to be broadcast on TV. While each
episode bears a "number" and
title, the episodes do not end in "cliffhangers", a hallmark of the classic
movie serial. Unlike TV series
of that period, though, the episodes are not completely self contained - they
follow a definite story arc,
and cannot be shown out of order and remain comprehensible to the viewer..

Republic Serial #64. Man with the Steel Whip (1954)
(12 chapters) Genre: Western.
Directed by Franklin Adreon
Starring Richard Simmons
Man with the Steel Whip used stock footage from all of the previous Zorro
serials produced by Republic
Pictures. The result of this is that the costume and body shape of the hero, El
Latigo, keeps changing
between scenes, even becoming female in scenes taken from Zorro's Black Whip.

Republic Serial #65. Panther Girl of the Kongo (1955)
(12 chapters) Genre: Jungle & Science Fiction.
Directed by Franklin Adreon
Starring Phyllis Coates
To cut production costs stock footage from the 1941 serial Jungle Girl was used
& so the female lead
in Panther Girl of the Kongo wore a duplicate costume. Meaning Republic's last
female lead wore the
same costume as its first.